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Main Stage Lineup

The North Jersey Pride Festival is well known for producing a spectacular show that is "built for grownups, safe for kids." All entertainment is at the PG level so parents don't have to worry about little ones. Let your kids run around on the lawn or watch the show in the Kids Zone while you relax on a blanket on the grass and enjoy an incredible lineup of entertainers! 

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The Schedule

12:15pm               Joanna Young

12:35                    Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir

1:00                      Mayor Vic Deluca & Pride Proclamation

1:15                       Antigone Rising

2:10                      Metropolitan Community Church Choir

2:45                     Leah Jenea

3:30                     Leland

4:15                      Gia Woods

4:50                     Harmonica Sunbeam

5:15                      Damien Crawford

5:35                     Amish Internet

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Gia Woods

Gia Woods breaks every rule. The 21-year-old queer Persian songstress can provoke one moment and comfort the next. Casting a striking and exotic presence, her undeniable sex appeal translates beyond music and into each performance and visual, while thoughtful songwriting and impressive instrumentation threads the vision together. Enamoring the LGBTQ community out of the gate in 2015, the singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist now stands primed to become a breakthrough talent in 2019. Her 2019 debut EP for Disruptor Records introduces a singular style representative of her enigmatic experience and bold persona. 

           In 2015, she made headlines with the breakout “Only A Girl.” Not only did it generate millions of streams, plays, and10 million views and countingand earn praise courtesy of Billboard, its cinematic video would also be her “coming out.”In the aftermath, she performed in front of thousands of people at LA Pride at her first-ever show. As Gia quietly attracted a following, she wrote and sang on Matoma’s 2017 hit “Heart Won’t Forget,” which generated over 32 million Spotify streams. In the end, Gia tosses the rules out the window and arrives as the subversive voice pop music desperately needs, by simply being herself. "My biggest thing is being genuine, and always being honest with who I am and what I’m about,” she says. “People need to be reminded to embrace themselves.”          

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Leland

Mississippi-bred, LA-based Brett McLaughlin, aka LELAND, is the songwriter behind many of your favorite pop gems of the past few years, including most of the standouts on Troye Sivan's debut Blue Neighbourhood (including the hit "Youth") plus "My My My!" and "The Good Side," the new singles from Troye's forthcoming sophomore album. Leland also penned a majority of Daya's stunning debut Sit Still, Look Pretty, Martin Garrix and Troye Sivan's "There for You," Sabrina Carpenter's "Why" and Selena Gomez and Gucci Mane's "Fetish," to name a few. In 2017, Leland released "Mattress," an "anthem about unrequited queer love set against soaring electro-pop production" (Out Magazine), which solidified him as a budding pop artist in his own right. Leland is also a composer and is executive producing several film soundtracks out this summer, all while continuing his role as one of the music composers for RuPaul's Drag Race. 

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Leah Jenea

Many will recall Leah Jenea from her dazzling debut on Fox’s "The Four: Battle For Stardom," where she wowed the judges as one of the show’s youngest competitors and quickly rose to become a fan favorite. In the midst of her growing fame, Leah, born and raised in Newark, met hip-hop legends Kay Gee and Vin Rock of Naughty By Nature through her father. The rap veterans took an interest in her sound, and when a clip of her song “Pulse” hit Instagram, they knew she was ready to become part of the Illtown Sluggaz collective. Now managed by both her parents and the Naughty icons, Leah is geared to level up with her Slugga Music/Cinematic Music Group release titled “Leah Meets Nina,” a striking project harnessing the power of Nina Simone with her own authentic style. 

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Antigone Rising

Performing as a trio, Antigone Rising puts on a great show, and their excellent musicianship, songwriting and soaring three-part harmonies have kept them a favorite in clubs and Festivals. Founding sisters Cathy and Kristen Henderson have always had the same philosophy, play better than the boys and make sure the fans feel like part of the family. That philosophy plus writing undeniably catchy songs has allowed this self-sustained group to maintain their independence and leave an indelible mark on an industry best known for leaving girl (bands) behind.  Antigone Rising continues to play a major part in LGBT advocacy.  They are currently working on a new CD and launched Girls Rising, (www.girlsrising.org) a nonprofit organization that inspires young women to harness their potential, follow their dreams, and pursue non-traditional career paths.  

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The Choir of the Metropolitan Community Church of New York (MCCNY)was founded in the early 1970’s. Since 1998 the choir has been led by John Fischer, who arranges most of the pieces for the group. Comprised of versatile and diverse singers who specialize in an ever-expanding array of genres, from R&B to classical, spirituals, hip hip, jazz, Broadway, folk, avant garde and pop, the Choir is united in its desire to communicate a positive message to people of all faiths, or of no faith. You can hear them every Sunday at MCCNY on 36th Street in Manhattan.

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Singer, songwriter, and entertainer Damien Crawford is a gifted and versatile performer whose musical styling is Hip Hop, rock, and pop mixed with a touch of R&B. Fans have come to define his genre as “Urban Pop.” In recent years, Damien has been dominating the stage with electrifying international performances while headlining two U.S. tours. He’s had the honor of opening up for established artists such as Neon Hitch, KeKe Wyatt, K.Michelle & Brandy! Over the years Damien has written for many independent artists such as Mike Lyrik, Metrell Hurst, K.WILL, etc. Currently, the talented artist is set to embark on the promotional tour for his new album “THERAPY.” 

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Scott Nevins is best known for being one of the breakout stars and original cast members of Bravo TV’s series “The People’s Couch,” and truTV’s hit show “truTV Presents: World’s Dumbest…”. Scott has appeared on national TV on NBC, FOX, Bravo, CNN International, HLN, truTV, The Style Network, Fuse TV and LOGO and has hosted several red carpet events for TV Land. He received high praise for his work as the cohost of “The Ann Walker Show with Scott Nevins” (UBN Radio), as a fill-in host on Sirius Satellite Radio and KNews Radio, and most recently as a political contributor for NewNowNext.com

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The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir is a tuition-free, audition-based performance show choir that stems from Paper Mill Playhouse’s award-winning Arts Education and Outreach programs. The choir consists of 60 singer/dancers between the ages of 15 and 22. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir acts as an ambassador to Paper Mill Playhouse with an array of performance opportunities throughout the community and beyond. Over the past five seasons, the choir has delighted more than 350,000 people across the region with rousing renditions of Broadway, pop and classics at prestigious venues including MetLife Stadium, Lincoln Center, Sun Arena, Mayo Center, Bergen PAC, NJPAC, The Empire State Building, SOPAC, among others. The Paper Mill Playhouse Broadway Show Choir is sponsored by Overlook Medical Center.

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Harmonica Sunbeam, the Queen of Comedy, has been delighting audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad for over 27 years. Her live appearances have gained her a cult following of all ages, races and backgrounds. A member of the Screen Actors Guild, her film credits include “Honey,” with Jessica Alba, “Uptown Girls,” with Brittany Murphy and the Oliver Stone drama, “World Trade Center.” She has also worked alongside noted musical artists such as Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Holiday, and Katy Perry. Miss Sunbeam’s latest project is showcasing her unique ability to uplift, encourage and engage children. As a host of DragQueen Story Hour,she reads to kids of all ages at libraries, bookstores, festivals and other events. DragQueen Story Hour encourages children to relate to both gender neutrality and non-conformity, while promoting positive LGTBQ role models.

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Joanna Young calls Maplewood home. Broadway and National Tours: The Drowsy Chaperone, Les Miserables, Grease! Selected Regional: A Chorus Line; Seussical; I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change; Footloose; Everything’s Ducky; Grease; The Bikinis; Bye, Bye, Birdie. She starred at SOPAC in the world premiere ofRated P….For Parenthood (original cast recording and Off Broadway run) and in Small Town Storythrough American Theatre Group. Joanna is a guest solo artist, many times with her hometown’s The Omaha Symphony, and most recently at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Joanna is a member of Midtown Direct Rep theater company and can be seen in numerous national commercials.

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